My ABS light has been lighting up periodically, so I took the car into the shop. The repair shop charged me about $600 to replace the defective Control Unit with an used one. Did I overpay?

Dear Bob--read your tale of woe of spending six hundred dollars for a used ABS module. I own two 97 850 wagons, and the ABS module failed on both with two weeks of each other. One, the R model, is here in the States. The other, a GLT model, had shipped to Norway. There has to be some kind of symbiotic relation between those two cars for that to happen.

The posts you're received all say you got ripped off, and they are correct. I sent my first ABS module to Victor Roche, who charged me $145 plus shipping at my end, and I got it back within six days, installed it, and no more ABS light. The people who nicked you $600 probably installed an ABS module that Victor hadn't reconditioned. I think what really p-sses me off most about these modules, is that the same company makes them for Volvos, Audis, BMWs, etc., and they all fail, if you read any of the other forums. Volvo knows this. Has known it since 93 or 94 when they started importing 850's to the US. The modules are made in the Phillipines by some company, and they have had many years to correct the defects in the mother boards (which Victor does), but they didn't and won't do it. It's a cash cow for the Volvo service and indy garages.

I don't know if you will have any luck in renegotiating your $600 bill, even if you threaten them with the internet and bad publicity, but you can try. If the module they installed hasn't been upgraded by Victor, it could easily fail like your first one. Then all you can do is send it to Victor for repair and upgrading so it won't fail again.

Sadder bit wiser, but we've all been there at one time or another in our lives. Follow this forum more closely in the future to avoid getting ripped off like you did. Dick

I've been emailing Victor about my situation and as a clarification for this mesaage board, I own a 1995 Volvo 850 GLT. According to Victor, the 1995 ABS Control Unit is quite different from the 1996 and newer models. Apparently its very rare for a control unit for a 1995 model to become defective but $350 for a used one might not be too bad. At this point, I'm not sure whether to ask for a refund and reinstall my original unit. I need to replace the front struts, spring seat, and get a alignment. This will cost far more than the $350 credit for returning the ASB control unit. My wife suggests that I sell the car and get a reliable Honda or Toyota. No way, this car has the most comfortable seats I've ever driven in, but if I continue having problems, boring reliable car here I come. Thanks to Victor and others for all your assistance and advice on this matter.

Overpaid? In the final analysis, every vendor charges whatever he can for his goods and services.

Fortunately, there is the free market, where competition has a rude way of telling people that they're not the only game in town, Exorbitant prices (like what you were just charged) have been one of the sad notes about these fun cars for a long time.

I see that you've already been directed to Vic Rocha's web site.

Victor is well known, at least in Volvo circles. His reputation has built over the years, and is well deserved. If there is a way to get your money (and your ABS unit) back, I'd recommend that you do so, assuming that Vic says that he can fix it. I hope it's possible.

If you want to read the most recent posting about Vic's work, look back on this board a few days.... just go back to Aug 18th and look for "rtparr"s posting about the "ABS module and preventive maintenance".

Good luck

Marty
'96 855T

[ "Overpaid? In the final analysis, every vendor charges whatever he can for his goods and services".]

So if your wife has a dead battery, it's OK with you if Joe Blow's Garage a block down the street charges her $500. for a jump because he's free to get "whatever he can for his goods and services"?? There's getting a fair price and there's stealing. Seems like fewer and fewer folks understand the difference anymore.

bl

No bl, it's not OK, and I'm sorry if you (or anyone else) interpreted my message to imply that I think that it is.

I guess as I've gotten older, I've come to realize that (as a wonderful Sarah McLaghlin song says) "seems like everywhere you turn, there's vultures and thieves at your back".

Nowadays, I'm somewhat cynical, and always watchful.

I too have been victimized by unscrupulous people who'll try to squeeze every last penny out of every situtation, especially when they sense that you are in trouble, and have nowhere else to go. Perhaps that's why, in my business, I establish what I consider to be fair prices, not based on what I think my customers will pay, but what I feel is honest, based purely on my costs and "real time" labor, and assuming I can do it right the first time around. In fact, my margins are so small on routine jobs, that any time warranty or unanticipated follow-up work is needed, it makes that particular job a "loser"... but only financially...in a very real sense, honoring my obligations makes me feel like a winner. I consider that to be my own built-in system to help cause me (and my employees) to do the best possible work... every time. And we work in a demanding and unforgiving field... heavy hydraulics and computerized control systems in the recycling industry.

Once again, I did not in any way wish to be seen as approving of what happened to Bob, and I certainly did not mean to offend you. I apologize.

Marty
'96 855T

Marty,

I apologize for popping off like I did. I should have reread your post as, in retrospect, it's pretty clear you weren't condoning this disgusting robbery that is widespread in auto repair (or in most any repair field nowdays). Unfortunately, it's easier to survive as a thief nowdays due to the very high growth rates in many areas of the country. If you hit a guy up for $600. for a used ABS control unit and he's ticked off and doesn't come back, no problem. Someone new to the area will come along to rip off. I have lived in a rapidly growing area in the east for 55 years. The same vultures that were robbing folks when I was 5 years old are still at it today.

Thanks

bl

I'm sorry to hear about your situation.
New units have the same defect as the old units and they eventually fail. Used units are on borrowed time as they will eventually fail as well.
Keep this information in case you need it.

All the ABS control units (Installed on 96 and newer 850, 70 series and S80 models) will eventually fail after they reach 65,000 miles or 5 years. The average is 85,000 miles and/or 6 years for failures.
A dealer will charge from $60.0 to $120.00 to diagnose the problem and about 95% of the cases the mechanic will recommend to replace the ABS control unit.

Here's more information on this issue and a replacement alternative.
Vitor's Volvo ABS website

You say 1996 and newer. I own a 1995 850 GLT. Your web site does not mention whether a ABS Control Unit for a 1995 can be rebuilt? I talked to my mechanic about getting a refund and installing arebuilt one. He says rebuilt units for a 1995 is problematic.

You bet. Victor, the ABS guru, would have rebuild your old unit better than new for about $140. You paid $600. for a used unit? I'd see about getting my money back if they still have your unit but they've probably already sold it to someone else for another $600. There's a special place in hell for these swindlers.

jB